PRACTICAL PROSPERITY

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3479, 14 June 1934, Page 5

PRACTICAL PROSPERITY

MR ALBERT? RUSSELL'S VIEWS

"CARDS ON THE TABLE."

There was a verv interested audience at the Town: Hall on Wednesday evening to hear Mr Albert Russell, of Auckland, give an address on practical prosperity proposals and the Ottawa Agreement, and those present gave Mx Russell a hearty welcome and ah attentive hearing. Mr J. T. Young presided, and in introducing , the speaker, apologised for the unavoidable absence of the Mayor and deputy Mayor, and of Mr L. G. Armstrong, chairman of the local branch of the N.Z. Producers' and United'Kingdom Manufacturers' Federation. ' . ~--... Mr Young went on to say that there was definite evidence of a move in favour of restrictions on the export of the Dominion's primary products, and he urged producers and others affected, to' consider the situation carefully, and impartially, after which they would assuredly oppose any such restrictions. Mr.: Russell : in business life was managing director of the big manufacturing firm of J. J. Niven and Co., Ltd., and his hobby is conducting and assisting at "community sings" (oftentimes over the air). Mr Russell was soon au fait with his audience, for he "put over" a most amusing storiette concerning the indictment of the Chinese and the demeanour of the Court interpreter. The speaker said 'he felt that there was. fo.much wrong with New Zealand that he approached the , New Zealand Producers and United Kingdom Manufacturers' Reciprocal Trade .Federation," who agreed to help in holding a series, of meetings throughout New Zealand . to <". put forward practical prosperity proposals. He pointed out, that as a born New Zeal&nder, he stood four square behind the, Commonwealth of Nations and the throne. .He is non-political, and the people were his party or all parties; therefore everyone was.on his side, and so an enjoyable time would be spent, and it was the desire to be .constructive by leading the people along the narrow pathway to the great open road of 'happiness- and prosperity, believing that the Dominion had a great opportunity to do something worth while. As a community was the pivoting, point of the present civilisation, the community had to face and-solve • its. problems, for when the community fails the country totters. The problems that confronted the. people must be worked out for the. benefit .of ■ the whole, and first of all they must be worked out in the minds, .and .hearts of ,the. people and then acted on. The<grfeatest problem facing the world to-day .was unemployment. ..He did not profess to have the remedy, but. :did have. an alleviation, and. so could confidently appeal to • ..everybody! in the community. There was, so much not understood about the running of the... country, and, everyone should know about the moves of Parliament for or. against the well-being of New Zealand that he, asked- Jor cards on the, table, and..as.a:slQgah he selected those very trite words, "cards on the table/-' Mr Russell went on to say, "We. have heard, a good-deal recently about quotas,.; tariffs and /similar things, but most of us have realised their importance:" "Behind them all is the Ottawa Agreement, which was signed one jyear and nine months ago, and although the agreement was a remarkable step forward for our land there was grave danger of the good being wiped.out.for the simple reason that we were not playing the game. Although the agreement had been ratified bv both the Parliaments here and in the Homeland, Britain had done her share, and we had hot. We had fallen down .by not carrying out •the undertakings under clauses 7 "and g: Clause .7 reads: "His Mar. jesty's Government in New Zealand undertakes that protection by tariffs shall be ' afforded against .United Kingdom products ONLY to those industries which are reasonably assured of sound opportunities of success." Clause 8 reads: "His Majesty's Government .'in New Zealand undertakes to institute an "enquiry, into the existing "protective duties, and, where, .necessary, to .reduce them as speedily as possible to such a level as will place the United Kingdom producer in the. position of a domestic competitor—that is that the protection afforded.the New Zealand producer shall be on. a level which will give the United Kingdom producer full opportunity' of reasonable .competition on'the .basis, of, relative cost of economical and efficient produc-tion-/!--The word "producer" used in clause 8 meant manufacturers in Britain and secondary industries m New Zealand. . • Well, .what,has been done? True, a Tariff Commission was set up nearly a-year after the agreement was signed and that commission has been collecting .evidence all. over New Zealand. •■■:, Its, report comes betore Parliament .early., hi July, and another year has gone by. without doing anything. ■-.'•' •• „ 9 Now is that playing . the game .' And we are*'in:the meantime, losing prestige with- Great Britain and one of the finest opportunities the coun"try ever had,- We want you to demand that we stand by the Ottawa Agreement. New Zealand requires the closest' possible contact with the British market, far more than any other Dominion", Vsimply because it represents *"ribt" only our mam market but practically--the- only market for our main exports, for nearly 90 pei cent of our surplus-goes there. Great Britain has always aimed at a twoday trade, which means that her imports were being paid for by exports, and we have been buying gooas from foreign countries to the detriment. ot the British manufacturer, and they would not stand for that very long The New Zealand Producers and British Manufacturers; Reciprocal Trade Federation. stanas for the fulfilment of a polVcy of Free Trade with Britain' within five" years, and to generally foster trade between us, knowing it' is for practical prosperity The Federation" has not shouted its'good Work from the house, tops, but it has done good service on the "home front" against quotas being imposed bv working with the t ecierated British Industries and other important factors in Great Britain. . The ideal state. of. prosperity . is selling

goods that we can make cheaply for goods that someone else can make more cheaply than we can. What are we doing to-day in competition with the world? Exchanging our cheap goods for dear goods, and those are made dear by tariffs restrictions and devaluing our money. It is said that New Zealand should foster secondary industries and by reason of those industries the country can be made self-supporting or nearly so. What absolute nonsense as far as New Zealand is concerned. In fact, pursued to its logical conclusion that reason would lead to world stagnation. Uneconomical secondary industries have a very vicious reaction in any country, because they raise the cost of living by inereas.-.ig the cost c+' goods, ..'nd We ire out to get the est of living down and to help thefarmer and worker. a The first Ottawa Agreement was made, as far as imports into Great Britain are concerned, on the same basis for all Dominions, but will future agreements be made on the same basis? We venture to suggest that they will not. Let us carry out our own bargain with Britain, and that would be the fiifst step. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to take the lead again, leading the Empire to free trade. We were first in the world with women's franchise, old age' pensions, penny postage, and what &• thrill went through the Empire when we gave the battleship New Zealand to the Empire, but we have lost our punch in the stress of difficult times, and by chaotic government hopping here and there, pottering and patching. Let us get back again as leaders and not laggers. Who feels the tariff most? Why, the farmer —because he can't pass it on. How is it possible to get the costs of production down? Onliy by giving the producer cheaper goods and real value for his money, by abolishing or lowering tariffs and getting purchasing power back. We must have a new outlook, and a' more just view of things. The report of the Tariff Commission comes before the House early in July, and we must have a thorough knowledge of what that report contains, for it is so vital to the country. Unfortunately, we have to say that our Government is not showing any business acumen in running the country. The Government therefore appears to have lost the confidence of the people. Can we honestly say their record is one of achievement? No! Please understand there are no personalities in my remarks. The fundamental reason our Government is not functioning well at present is_ the pernicious system of party politics, for the reason that individual members are often forced to vote against their own convictions and your interests. In our own interests we must demand that the question of the tariff report is made a national, and not a Government or party issue. Let us have cards on the table. Let us be all .open, free and above board. It is a national issue of the first magnitude,, and should be handled as such. Each constituency must make its. member realise his responsibility to you. You can all help by going to your member, discussing the subject, and seeing that action is secured. The publication of the tariff report is so vital that we are holding meetings all over the country urging that publication must be made as soon as possible. In this matter party politics should be as out of date as candles are in comparison with the electric light. We want you to demand that the tariff report be published in every leading newspaper in the Dominion,* just as soon as it appears on the floor of the House; for we must all take an intelligent interest in the debates, for the issue is ot vital importance to New Zealand. One of our objects is to see that tariffs are removed so that the purchasing power of the country will be brought back again, and the value ot money returned so that the standard of living will be higher, and this can be accomplished if you will stand behind us and get action. "A good deal has been said about secondarv industries and unemployment," * Mr Russell then pointed to a chart that was hanging up, and went on: "Here you have the position in a nutshell. There are 550,000 workers in New Zealand with one million dependents. The chart in colours shows the actual position. per cent of the workers are on the land, and 15 per cent engaged in secondary industries, but the big total of 60'per cent of workers were in other trades, callings and professions. It has been worked out authentically that of the 15 per cent engaged in secondary industries only a small proportion would affected if free trade arrived. In fact, 5 per cent would benefit by free trade, 6 per cent would not be affected one way or the other, and the very small total of 4 per cent would either have to make themselves more efficient or find other occupations Our aim is the real benefit of the many, and under the circumstances once more a case is made for free trade with Great Britain. We are asking you to stand behind us in the keeping of our obligations under the Ottawa Agreement, in helping us towards the goal of free trade with Britain within five years and in the meantime to see that the report of the Tariff Commission is publisnea, and the way made easy for the fulfilment of a two way trade between Great Britain and ourselves, knowing that it means so much in our present goodwill and future prosperity. It is really a magic crystal for you to win all the time. Where is the revenue coming from if all tariffs between England and New Zealand are removed? We have a five per cent sales tax on certain goods now. Make that sales tax cover everything. It is a fact that this action will more than compensate the Government for its loss of tariff revenue. To-day foodstuffs are sales tax free, coal is free, and ever so many other articles. Put a five per cent tax on everything, including foodstuffs; let nothing escape. Everyone is sharing in the expense and no one section is penalised. Foodstuffs produced on the land are cheap to-day; you know that only too well, and a five per cent tax would not be felt by the consumer, as the purchasing power will be restricted. With free trade and the position cleared up just visualise the outlook of more employment through shipping alone. Last year GO per cent of the ships from England came out in ballast ■■■■•■;■

How has this depression affected us? It has made us more tolerant, and drawn us closer together in a s'enre or otherdom and brotherhood.

We are all out to help the other fellow, and it is as it should be, for we have to work to end all the difficult times as soon as possible and bring things back to practical prosperity. The first steps are what I have outlined, and then we can go forward again and again until we see the fulfilment of all we desire. We must stand by our obligations, and work with the Homeland, which is the sheet anchor of the world. Let us have faith in. cur ideals. Stand behind us with sincerity of purpose and see that cards are placed on the table so that the Ottawa Agreement will be ratified, the tariff report published, a permanent open market is kept with Britain, and so the purchasing power of the community will be returned, the standard of living raised and unemployment will be decreased. As Mr Russell resumed his seat he was warmly applauded. QUESTIONS.

When questions were invited opportunity was taken to clear up several points bearing on the principal address.

Then Mr J. G. Wynyard proposed the following resolution, which was carried unanimously: "This large and representative meeting of citizens of Te Awamutu • and adjacent districts calls upon the Government to honour New Zealand's obligations under the Ottawa Agreements to the full, and to further cement our relationship with Great Britain by drastically lowering the duties on British imports into New Zealand." Another resolution, unanimously adopted, provided for forwarding the foregoing resolution to the Prime Minister and Messrs W. J. Broadfoot and D. S. ißeid, M's.P. for Waitomo and Raglan respectively. On the motion of Mr W, C. Wacky, Mr Russell was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by acclamation, and the usual compliment to the chair terminated the meeting.